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What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Know more to make the right decisions

You’re not alone

If you’ve been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Worldwide, 344 million adults have Type 2 Diabetes1.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or the insulin produced isn’t effective. Although its key causes are unclear, lifestyle and family history appear to be contributing factors. Nearly 90% of all cases of diabetes are Type 22, and most situations can be managed by regular physical activity and healthy eating. However, as it is often progressive, most people will need oral medications and/or insulin injections in addition to these lifestyle changes. And while it was once called adult onset diabetes, children and teenagers can develop Type 2 diabetes as well3.

Risk Factors

There are several factors that can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

They include family history, ethnicity, weight, inactivity, age, pre-diabetes (a condition in which your blood sugar is higher than normal) and gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy)3.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Some of the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can seem harmless at first - you can even have the disease without knowing it. Symptoms of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) might include3:

Increased thirst and frequent urination

Extreme hunger

Fatigue

Blurred vision

Headaches or dizziness

Other problems may occur at a later stage, including a slower healing process or tingling and numbness in the hands or feet. Some men with Type 2 diabetes may also experience erectile dysfunction.4

Usually, your doctor will test you for diabetes by taking a blood sample and sending it to a laboratory, or by using a glucose meter. This will measure your blood’s glucose levels to determine if they’re too high, indicating diabetes.

Specifically, you are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if you:

Have a family history of diabetes5

Have had gestational diabetes5

Are overweight or obese5

Are inactive5

Are of South Asian, African-Caribbean, Black African, Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander ethnicity6,7

This information is designed to help you learn more about Diabetes therapy. It is intended to provide you with helpful information but is for information purposes only, is not medical advice and should not be used as an alternative to speaking with your doctor. Be sure to discuss questions specific to your health and treatments with a healthcare professional. For more information on the Diabetes Therapy please speak to your healthcare professional or contact us directly: 1800 209 6777. ^Components are sold separately. *Waterproof at time of manufacture up to 3.6 metres for up to 24 hours at a time. See MiniMed® 640G User Guide for a complete description of the waterproof capabilities and proper use instructions.